Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association (TPSPA) has elaborated on their nearly unanimous vote (99% majority) to reject Telski’s final contract offer. The ski patrol has been working without a contract since the end of August and members have preemptively and unanimously approved to strike if deemed appropriate:

“This contract is about raising us back to a competitive point in both the industry and the region. We have spent enough time speaking to patrollers at other mountains who know their own contracts intimately to be sure of this. The unfortunate reality is that wages at Telluride have fallen behind and high costs of living have resulted in higher than historical turnover rates, leading to short staffing and the erosion of our institutional knowledge. This is not sustainable for this patrol. Last season we were so short staffed we had to keep terrain closed.

As we lose this knowledge, and the ability to keep the folks we invest years into training, the risk to yours and our safety increases. It is not uncommon for our patrollers to be fully buried, or caught and carried in our avalanche terrain. We trust each other with our lives, and we need to have trained counterparts to keep this whole thing going. The latest offer from Telski does not adequately address these concerns, it simply leaves room for wages to fall back and for this problem to worsen in the next three year term. We cannot accept this.” – Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association (TPSPA)

In the latest negotiations Telski offered a 9% per person raise. The union had been seeking a 30% increase but had lowered the request to a 25% increase.

“Last, best and final” is a legal, not a literal term. Typically this feedback would be taken to the company and they may try to make an improved offer. The union has made it clear at the table we still have some room to move, we are by no means “demanding” the last numbers we have on the table. Membership resoundingly communicated this LBFO offer does not sufficiently address years of wage compression or suppression, is not industry leading, and does not adequately incorporate newly unionized supervisors. We will be presenting more detail on this at both town councils, you can find us there.” – Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association (TPSPA)

A potential ski patrol strike could have severe impacts on Telluride Ski Resort’s ability to operate. While not confirmed, it is thought ski resort may be limited to spinning Lifts 1 and 4 should TPSPA strike. This is a developing story and we will be sure to update as new information becomes available.

Francis Xavier is a seasoned writer for Unofficial Networks, bringing a lifetime of outdoor experience to his work. Having lived in a ski resort town for years he has a deep connection to mountain culture....